PTI to convert anti-rigging drive into long march

LAHRE - PTI, which had launched anti-poll rigging drive from D-Chowk, Islamabad, is planning to convert the momentum of the campaign into a long march by adding more issues on the agenda to create more dents in ruling party’s support base, The Nation has learnt. A senior member of the PTI core committee told this correspondent on Sunday that party high command was planning to convert the anti-poll rigging drive into a long march, while a decision in this regard was expected by the end of August. Revealing the inside story of a party meeting chaired by party chairman, he said: Party chief is giving high importance to the proposal of some core committee members for converting the anti-poll rigging campaign into a long march to create irreparable holes in the boat of the ruling party especially Punjab to grab maximum support in a politically important province. Informing about more details, he said, “Party chairman has directed the core committee members to build up the momentum of the anti-poll rigging campaign in a bid to convert this drive into a possible massive long march.” He added: PTI will add more issues on its agenda other than poll rigging to convert the drive into a long march. He said: The destination of the under consideration long march will be Islamabad, while the marchers will leave the federal capital after acceptance of their demands, which he claimed, are the demands of the populace. Ijaz Chaudhary, PTI Punjab president and core committee member when contacted, said, “I can’t comment on the query at this moment but I can tell you that PTI will launch 10 more protest demonstrations against the poll rigging in August after Eid, besides Bahawalpur demonstration scheduled for June 22.” He added: PTI Punjab will hold five indoor meetings comprising people belonging to the fields of industry, trade, engineers, doctors and others over the issue of 2013 poll rigging. When asked about PTI possibilities joining hands with PAT, PML-Q and others possible upcoming political alliance, he said that there was no plan in the party to join them. PTI would make its efforts to reform the system and they (PAT, PML-Q) would employ their endeavors for this purpose.